Chef Choi Hyun-seok, Controversial Over Forged Documents and Hacking Damage... Returns to Broadcast After 4 Months

Chef Choi Hyun-seok, who stepped down from broadcasting due to controversies such as forgery of private documents and hacking, appeared on a show again after four months. Photo by tvN, screenshot from the show 'Sumine Banchan'

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] Chef Choi Hyun-seok, who had stopped his broadcasting activities due to controversies involving forgery of private documents and cellphone hacking, appeared on a broadcast after four months.

On the 5th, the tvN variety show 'Sumi's Side Dishes' aired a special 100th episode featuring the first-generation chefs Choi Hyun-seok, Yeo Kyung-rae, and Mikael.

During the broadcast, when host Kim Sumi asked, "Have you been well?" Choi Hyun-seok responded by bowing deeply and saying, "Please accept my deep bow first."

Choi Hyun-seok shared his recent activities, saying, "Isn't this a difficult time because of COVID-19? So, I have been volunteering by delivering lunchboxes to vulnerable elderly people using side dishes I learned from Kim Sumi."

Earlier, in January, Choi Hyun-seok was involved in controversies over allegations of forgery of private documents and being a victim of cellphone hacking.

At that time, Choi explained, "My cellphone was hacked around August 2018. The hacked data contained personal life information as well as personal information of my family and acquaintances. I followed the official procedures and requested an investigation from the authorities, and the investigation was concluded with a closure notice."

Regarding the forgery controversy, he stated, "I had received legal action from my former agency last year concerning an exclusive contract, but afterward, we understood each other's positions and mutually agreed to write a settlement agreement. Currently, the legal action has been withdrawn."

Due to this controversy, Choi Hyun-seok stepped down from shows including 'Sumi's Side Dishes' and KBS 2TV's 'The Manager Has Donkey Ears.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.